Table latch



F. B. WALTER Jupe 13, 1933.

TABLE LAT C H Filed Feb. l5. 1930 INVENTOR. jfrederzC/c Wa 1i; er',

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A TTORNEY Fatented `lume 13, 19:33

rra sATEs vPA"1E1\Vr1`o1=rnEj FREDERICK B. WALTER, OF VJABASH, INDIANA,ASSIGNOR TO B. WALTER 8c COMPANY,

INC., F VJABASH, INDIANA, A OORPORATIN F INDIANA TABLE LATCH Applicationfiled February 15, 1930. lSerial No. 428,847.

My invention relates to improvements in latches for table tops and isparticularly din rected toward that type ot latch adapted for drawingtogether and connecting the sections of a top extension table.

The invention has for one of its objects ythe provision of a simple,cheaply manufactured latch, which permits the minimum separation oli'the table leaves.

For the purpose of disclosing my invention, I have illustrated oneembodiment thereof in the accompanying drawing, in Which:

Fig. 1 is a partial sectional View of a table showing my lat-ch applied;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan thereof;

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan of the latch with, the cover member in section;

F ig. 4 is a sectional view'taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan of the latch, the cover being broken away andshowing the latch in a diiierent position to that shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan of the handle mounting; and

Fig. 7 is a detail section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

In the embodiment illustrated, one eXtension section 1 oi: the table isprovided with a keeper which may comprise a flat bar 2 having a downturned lip 3 at its end, the bar 2 being secured to the under face ofthe extension section.

The latch proper comprises a base 4 provided with suitable screwopenings 5 for securing the same to the opposite table eX- tensionmember 6. This base is provided with a longitudinally movable prycomprising a bar 7 slidable on the base and guided through the medium ofa longitudinally eX- tending slot 8 in the bar adapted to receive aguide 9 struck up from the base. One edge of the pry is provided with asemicircular recess 10 adapted to receive a correspondingly shaped lng11 on the bottom end of the latch bar 12. This bar is provided with anengaging catch 13 at its outer end and opposite the lug 11 with an arm14 adapted to contact, when the bar 7 and with it the latch 12 is movedin one direc,.- tion, with a stop 15 struck up from the bottom of thebase 4.

A cover member 16is provided, the side Walls oi" which are provided withears 17 adapted to take into openings 18 formed in the base for securingthe cover member in position. One of the side Walls of this cover membercarries a flat spring 19y anchored atone end r20 in the side wall andhaving its opposite end bearing against the latchportion l2 and biasingthe latch toward engaging position. The latch is manipulated by a handle21 pivoted on a supporting plate 22 and connected with the pry bar 7 bya rod 23. This handle is provided with a pin 24 operating in an arcuateslot V25 formed in the support 22, the slot being so positioned thatwhen the handle is manipulated to move the latch to locking position,

the pin 24 will occupy a portion of the slot 25 in suchl aposition as toprevent the handle from swinging on its pivot under any tendency toseparate the two table sections. Y

In operation with the latch in its locking position, as shown in Fig. 5,the operating handle is in the position shown in Fig. 6. In order tounlatch the parts, the handle is swung to the position shown in Fig. 2.This advances the pry 7 into engagement With theA keeper 3 and at thesame time moves the latch member forward with the pry causing the arm 14to engage the stop and swinging the latch out of engagement with thekeeper so that the continued for- Y ward movement of the pry will forcethe two table sections apart.

I claim as my invention:

l. The combination with a keeper, of lato 1 mechanism comprising a base,a lug integra' with said base, a pry bar slidably mounted on said baseand provided with an elongated slot guidingly receiving said lug, alatch pivotally secured to said pry bar and operatively associated withsaid keeper, a cover associated with said base, spring means carried bysaid cover and urging said latch toward retaining engagement with saidkeeper, and means independent of said lug and engageable by said latch,upon movement of said pry bar toward said keeper, to move said latch outof retaining engagement With said keeper.

2. Latch mechanism comprising a base, a pry bar slidably mounted on saidbase, cooperable means on said base and bar for guiding movement of saidbar, a latch pivotally secured to said pry bar, a cover associated withsaid base, spring means associated With said cover and urging said latchto move in one direction about its pivotal axis, and means independentof said guide means and engageable by said latch, upon movement of saidbar in one direction, to move said latch against the tendency of saidspring means.

3. Latch mechanism comprising` a slidably mounted pry bar formed With apart-circu lar recess therein, said recess opening through one edge ofsaid bar, and the opening being of less magnitude than a diameter ofsaid recess, a latch provided With a cylindrical boss and said bossbeing received in said recess, and means cooperable With said latch,upon movement of said bar in one direction, to effect oscillation ofsaid boss in said recess.

4. Latch mechanism comprising a slidably mounted pry bar formed With apart-circular recess therein, said recess opening through one edge ofsaid bar, and the opening being of less magnitude than a diameter ofsaid recess, a latch provided With a cylindrical boss and said bossbeing received in said recess, means for holding said boss against axialdisplacement from said recess, and means cooperable With said latch,upon movement of said bar in one direction, to effect oscillation ofsaid boss in said recess.

5. Latch mechanism comprising a sheet metal base and a sheet metal coverassociated with said base to form a housing, a pry bar slidably mountedWithin said housing and formed with a part-circular recess therein, saidrecess opening through one edge of said bar, and the opening being ofless magnitude than a diameter of said recess, a latch provided With acylindrical boss and said boss being received in said recess, springmeans urging said latch to oscillate in one direction about the axis ofits boss, and means cooperable With said latch, upon movement of saidbar in one direction, to move said latch against the tendency of saidspring means.

In Witness whereof, FREDERICK B. WALTER have hereunto set my hand atWabash, Indiana, this 8th day of February, A. D. one thousand ninehundred and thirty.

'FREDERICK B. WALTER.

